Updated Release: Composite C1 4.0 Beta 2 (Feb 10, 2013)

Composite C1 4.0 Beta 2 - v.4.0.4786.26976
We are hard at work creating the new Composite C1 - this is the second milestone release in this effort. This is not quite yet a public stable release, but if you are not afraid of betas you should consider using this. We do, and it is darn solid!

Enjoy!

What's new in 4.0 Beta 2?

• IE9 and IE10 run in standards mode and had good perf
• Support for older IE7 and IE8 dropped
• Data Type Editor now enable you to control sorting on tree elements
• When media files are updated (like uploading a new image on top of an existing one) all client caches are automatically invalidated
• The C1 Console "Tools | Server Log" now offer filtering of event types '
• The "Working... Please wait." clock graphic replaced with more ajaxy APNG. Animates nicely in Firefox, static on other.
• Tons of minor fixes, see source code history for details.

What's new in 4.0 Beta 1?

• ASP.NET Razor, Web Forms and Master pages are now 1st class citizens
• Page Template supports Razor and Master pages with full C1 Console edit support in the Layout perspective
• Razor Functions and User Control Functions known from C1Contrib build in, added to public API and manageable from within the C1 Console
• In Layout perspective, New "Page Templates Features" allow you to maintain templates elements (like footer texts, navigation and aside columns functions) in a code free environment.
• Code editor has razor syntax highlighting
• ASP.NET Sitemap provider support
• Drop down menus support searches
• Free hand image re-size in visual editor
• Copy XSLT Functions
• IE10 is supported and has spell checking in all input fields
• XML data files serialize elements sorted by primary key. Makes use with code versioning systems easier.
• OnStoreChange data event introduced for better scale out support
• Changes to XML data files are picked up. Data is reloaded and OnStoreChange are fired, updating all relevant Composite C1 caches.
• New URL combobox widget allow for both internal URLs and a typed URL
• The C1 Console tree showing website pages now use the 'Menu Title' for labels
• IFormLoginProvider and related types now exposed in the public API
• RenderingResponseHandler and related types now exposed in the public API
• Numerous bug fixes and minor improvements

Who should use this beta?
We do our utmost to deliver beta builds that are stable, functional and where APIs won't change significantly compared to the final release. We will deliver automated upgrade tools and guidance to help you easily move through betas to the final release. Should you encounter any critical issues we will address them fast, once you bring them to our attention in a reproducible way. All in all you should expect to have a good experience with this build, but it is a beta. You should not use this for projects where the customer feels uneasy with beta products.

Let us know if we are moving in the right direction
Since it is not an official release you will be running there might be bugs and UX blunders, and there may be incomplete features and interfaces and APIs that will change later. You are very welcome to use the Issue Tracker at CodePlex if you come across something you feel we should not forget to fix.

Upgrading to Composite C1 4.0 Beta 2
You can upgrade from earlier 4.0 builds like this:

1. Take a backup of your site before you begin, you might need it.
2. Download the upgrade package (link above)
3. In The C1 Console go to System | Packages | Local Packages and execute "Install local package"
4. In the package wizard, provide the ZIP you downloaded in step 2

If you are upgrading from a 4.0 build older than Beta 1 and use our Razor templates you have a minutes of manual updates, please see http://compositec1.codeplex.com/discussions/404362